Deputy FM attends Tokyo int’l conference on African development

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong attended the seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in the Japanese prefecture of Yokohama from August 27 – 30.

The event attracted representatives from 50 African countries, including 29 heads of State and government leaders.

Themed “Advancing development in Africa through people, technology and innovation”, the conference focused its discussions on promoting economic transformation and business environment improvement via innovation and participation of private sector, building a sustainable and resilient society, and strengthening security and stability.

At the seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development

At the event, many African countries set the goal of soon becoming emerging economies with high level of industrialisation via establishing economic zones that offer incentives to foreign investors.

Speaking highly of Africa’s bright prospects, international organisations and the private sector forecast that the continent’s economy could grow by 6 percent annually and achieve a gross domestic product of nearly 2.6 trillion USD next year.

Participants adopted the Yokohama Declaration 2019 and issued an action programme to realise the document.

The Vietnamese delegation actively joined discussions at the event, affirming Vietnam’s commitment to partnering with TICAD process and its wish to share development experience in fields of strength, especially in agriculture under public-private partnership model.

On the sidelines of the event, Cuong met bilaterally with Foreign Minister of Cameroon Lejeune Mbella and Director of the OECD Development Centre Mario Pezzini to discuss ways deepening bilateral ties in the near future.

He also held bilateral meetings with Secretary General of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and Chairman of the Japan – Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Nikai Toshihiro, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Suzuki Norikazu, Deputy Secretary General of National Security Secretariat and Assistant Chief Cabinet Secretary Kanehara Nobukatsu, and Governor of Kanagawa prefecture Kuroiwa Yuji to talk Vietnam – Japan ties as well as ties between Kanagawa prefecture and Vietnamese cities and provinces.